(Newser)
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A massive supertanker is heading for the Gulf, newly outfitted to skim oil out of the water—in theory. The boat, appropriately named A Whale, is 10 stories tall and 372 yards long, making it the largest ship to ever attempt an oil cleanup job. Its owner, Nobu Su, CEO of Taiwan Maritime Transport, says it's been outfitted to roll across the Gulf seeping up oil “like a lawn mower cutting the grass.” But the procedure is completely untested.

Government and BP officials are “about as excited as you can be about something that you have no idea what it can do,” a spokesman for the disaster's Joint Information Center tells the Huffington Post. But Su is confident his tanker can pull in 15 million gallons of oily water a day, a huge boost over the total 28 million gallons that BP has collected over a really depressing number of days.

I think we should be trying everything possible. They are dumping chemicals in the ocean right now, why should this need approval.

Brian

Jul 1, 2010 7:45 AM CDT

Collection of the BP oil spill has never been a "skimming" operation. Both underwater plumes and surface oil must be collected. Given its lack of maneuverability and location of suction inlet ports, "A Whale" will merely be able to collect some of the surface oil in calm seas. BP and USCG will eventually use tankers to collect the oil that has been released into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the Deepwater Horizon blowout of April 20, 2010. Unfortunately, this decision will be made after the devastation of many coastal communities. Since May 17, 2010, Renergie, Inc. has submitted unsolicited proposals for the purpose of using three Panamax class crude tankers for the collection and onboard separation of the BP oil spill to every federal agency, state agency, state elected official and federal elected official with even a remote interest in the BP oil spill. These tankers are capable of collecting and separating both surface oil and the underwater plumes of oil. The USCG response to Renergie's proposal stated, “Unfortunately, the Coast Guard does not currently have a mission and is not hiring contractors. However, if BP requests names, I will recommend and forward your company.” The blowout of April 20, 2010 aboard the Deepwater Horizon was clearly preventable. The fact that the BP oil spill has been allowed to reach coastal areas is inexcusable. For a clear understanding of the issues involved, visit: http://renergie.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/bp-is-not-the-only-responsible-party/ and http://donovanlawgroup.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/the-oil-pollution-act-provides-for-the-federalization-of-the-bp-oil-spill/ and http://donovanlawgroup.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/why-bp-does-not-want-an-accurate-measurement-of-the-gulf-oil-spill/

MrSoul

Jun 30, 2010 1:24 PM CDT

What do they do/where do they deposit the oil after it's been collected? The tanker has to come and go from somewhere I suppose.